Benne Wafers

Benne Wafers or Sesame Seed Cookies are thin, crispy cookies made with toasted sesame seeds and brown sugar for a rich, nutty flavor. They’re light, crunchy, and completely addictive.

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This post was last updated 12/2025.

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Shopping list:

• toasted sesame seeds
• butter
• light brown sugar
• egg
• vanilla extract
• all purpose flour
• salt
• baking powder

My daughter is a Daisy in Girl Scouts, and recently we attended a Girl Scouts event called Thinking Day, where each troop represents a country with activities, games, and foods to sample. One of our favorite stops was the Tanzania booth, where we tried these amazing little sesame seed cookies called Benne Wafers and I was instantly hooked.

Benne Wafers are thin, crisp cookies made with toasted sesame seeds, butter, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla. The sesame seeds add such a unique, nutty flavor that makes these cookies completely irresistible. This recipe makes a big batch, around 70 small cookies, but don’t let that fool you. Once you start snacking on them, it’s almost impossible to stop. They’re light, crunchy, and dangerously addicting, so consider yourself warned!

Looking to try some more easy cookie recipes? Try these Chocolate Kiss Cookies or Lemon Blueberry Cookies!

Need more recipes to use sesame seeds? Check out Honey Garlic Sesame Baked Chicken or Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken!

Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe 💙

Recipe tips and substitution ideas:

• For the best flavor, make sure to buy toasted sesame seeds or toast the sesame seeds before mixing them into the dough, this really brings out their nutty taste. Since the dough spreads quickly while baking, keep the scoops small and spaced well apart on the baking sheet. Watch the cookies closely as they bake; they brown fast and can go from perfect to overdone in seconds. Let them cool completely on the parchment paper, as they will continue to crisp up as they cool.

• Store Benne Wafers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to keep them crisp. If they soften slightly, you can re-crisp them by placing them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes. These cookies don’t freeze well once baked, but the dough can be frozen in small scoops and baked straight from the freezer when you’re ready to enjoy a fresh batch.

• Here’s the easiest way to toast sesame seeds: Add the sesame seeds to a dry skillet (no oil) over medium low heat. Cook, stirring or shaking the pan frequently, for 3-5 minutes until the seeds turn lightly golden and smell nutty. Remove them from the pan immediately, they can burn quickly and transfer to a plate or bowl to cool before using.

Our favorite kitchen equipment and supplies used with this recipe:

• 9x13 Inch Parchment Paper Sheets
• NutriChef 3-Piece Non-Stick Cookie Sheets
• OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set

Yield 75 small cookies

Author Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Prep time

10 Min

Cook time

6 Min

Total time

16 Min

Benne Wafers

These classic Benne Wafers bake up golden and crisp with a buttery sesame crunch in every bite. Small in size but big on flavor, they’re impossible to stop eating.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well blended.
3. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop the dough by ½ teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies about 1½ inches apart.
4. Bake for 4-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
5. Remove the parchment paper with the cookies from the baking sheet and allow the cookies to cool completely before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

49

Fat

3 g

Sat. Fat

1 g

Carbs

6 g

Fiber

0 g

Net carbs

6 g

Sugar

4 g

Protein

1 g

Sodium

26 mg

Cholesterol

7 mg

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You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual's dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual.

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